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HF 2908

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/22/2010 06:14pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/11/2010
1st Engrossment Posted on 02/22/2010

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

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A resolution
urging payment of Federal Respite Leave Benefit for members of the 1st Brigade
Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard who served
in Iraq during the Troop Surge of 2007.

WHEREAS, various units of the Minnesota's National Guard have served honorably in
multiple worldwide peacekeeping and combat deployments before and since September 11,
2001; and

WHEREAS, the order for deployment of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry
Division of the Minnesota National Guard ordered the members of the Brigade into federal active
military service under Title 10 U.S.C. for a period of 18 months; and

WHEREAS, approximately 2,700 members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry
Division of the Minnesota National Guard who were deployed for the Operation Iraqi Freedom
during 2007 had their deployment extended by the United States Department of Defense up to an
additional four months in response to the troop surge in Iraq by Presidential order; and

WHEREAS, as a result of that Presidential order, the United States Government through its
Department of Defense promised to pay a respite leave benefit to each of those soldiers valued at
approximately $200 per day; and

WHEREAS, for 2,513 of those 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of
the Minnesota National Guard soldiers, this benefit has yet to be paid by the United States
Government; and

WHEREAS, the cumulative benefit owed these soldiers for this benefit is approximately
$10,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress enacted legislation on October 28, 2009,
authorizing the service secretaries to implement the respite leave benefit program for those
deserving service members; and

WHEREAS, the current economic and employment situation facing all veterans returning
to the United States is the worst recession since the Great Depression; and

WHEREAS, in order to return all the way home, the veterans of the 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard deserve and need the benefits
promised to them by the United States Government; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges President
Obama to order the Secretary of Defense and other responsible federal government officials to
promptly issue implementation guidance that will allow our Minnesota service members to submit
their claims to receive these benefits that they have been officially promised by the United States
Government and which they so honorably earned in combat.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to President Obama, Minnesota's
Senators and Representatives in Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.